On page 16 of the Henry Curtis Pedigree, Holden's Directory 1805-7,it was questioned whether George Robert's partner in the wollen mill in Toad Lane, Mathew, was the son of Mathew and Mary or his nephew. George Robert's partner was Mathew son of Benjamin and Sarah. In George's will dated Oct.George III, 1810, he bequeathed his share in the partnership, not to his eldest son James but to Samuel Stott, and his nephew Mathew.

Samuel Stott was the husband of his daughter Sarah who was probably a nephew of his wife Sarah. To James and George his sons he bequeathed 100 pounds each. In the 1930's, the writer on his visits to his grandparents, Frederic and Alice who lived in one of the cottages in Waterhouse Street, clearly remembers the Wollen Mill on the corner of Waterhouse Street and Toad Lane.

The Wollen Mill at this time had changed ownership and was occupied by a firm of sheetmetal workers where Frederic worked. In his drunken ramblings he often talked of his grandparents once owning the mill and that it should have been left to him. Fred came from a well-educated family, most of them musicians.

As a youth he learned the piano and often entertained the customers at the Fox and Dog Inn lower down Toad Lane, where he spent most of his time and money. As a result of his addiction to alcohol he lived in extreme poverty; in his frequent raging tempers he would return home to put his wife and children out on the street; the consequences of which led his family, a son and three daughters to live their lives in complete abstinence.

Waterhouse Street at that time contained two rows of terraced cottages built for the textile workers and had probably been named after the Estate of Waterhouse, which earlier Butterworths had once owned. Waterhouse Street still exists and is part of the modern housing complex leading from Redcross Street. Samuel Butterworth, b.1787, son of James and grandson of George married Elizabeth Stott on the 28th Feb.,1808,at the Parish Church (cert. no.40).

He lived at 2, Spring Gardens behind Rochdale Cenotaph, now the sunken gardens. He had four sons: 1. James, b.25th Dec.1808; who married Hannah Fielding of Hamer Bottoms at the Parish Church on the 11th,July,1831.(cert.no.286) 2. Charles, b.29th Aug.1811 who married Nancy Bridge of Union Street, Rochdale, at the Parish Church on the 27th Oct., 1833. (Cert. No.431) 3. Thomas, b. 13th March, 1815. 4. Joseph, b. 20th Dec., 1819.

It would appear that Samuel's first wife died and he remarried Mary ? from Bury. Both sons James and Charles were married from the address at Spring Gardens The following are copies from the 1841-51-61 Census records:-

1841 Census. 1851 Census. 1861 Census. Samuel age 55. Wollen Weaver. Samuel age 70. Mary Butterworth age 57 Mary " 35 Wife. Mary " 47. (Widow, Launderess) Joseph " 20 Cotton Jobber. Thomas " 26. Emma Lord Stott Thomas " 15 Grandson. (cotton carder) Boarder age 19. Elizbth. " 10 Grandaughter Grand-son Charles,b.1811, son of Samuel and Elizabeth and grandson of James was a Quaker and a musician.

He formed a band known as Butterworth`s Band and was well known at that time. He lived on Union Street (Where his son Samuel the violinist was born) The 1851 Census shows the family living at 30, Queen Street. The 1861 Census shows the family living at the top of Duke Street, No 74.

The house is still there, 1987,(recently modernised), although the brickwork is old compared with the houses higher in the street. It is probable the house was at the top of the Duke Street in 1861. Living there with the family was a nephew, William, aged 26-this was probably James's son; also a Martha Holt aged 14. No.74 Duke Street is opposite Industry Road. William Butterworth, b.1839; son of Charles and Nancy; married Eliza Spencer on the 21st Dec., 1859 at St.Stephens Church (Cert.No.144), Ball Street, off George Street, (now demolished). He was 20 years of age, she was 19.